LAR Latinx Digital Poetics: An Electronic Literature Folio

Latinx poetry has a rich history of exploring the boundaries of the artform: Juan Felipe Herrera’s experimental forms, and Mónica de la Torre’s innovative approaches to translation and collaboration, among many others. This tradition of working in avant-garde or innovative spaces—perhaps a multi-generational search for duende—continues in the 21^st century, which I think is particularly well-represented in digital poetry.

Digital poetry is a form of electronic literature, a genre of literature made of works that are designed to be experienced on a computer or digital device. Throughout the month of May, we will be publishing digital poetry from the following poets: Tina Escaja, Leonardo Flores, Anthony Cody, Loss Pequeño Glazier, Urayoán Noel, and J. Michael Martinez.

It was my intention to feature poets from around the world, at different points in their careers, and of different backgrounds and genders. Unfortunately, we had last-minute changes in the roster which created some imbalances in representation. Despite this, I believe the range of styles and themes represented in this folio makes for an artistically and intellectually thrilling showcase. I fully expect future publications in this arena to be more gender inclusive. This is the first of what I hope will be many E-Lit publications here at The Los Angeles Review.

An in-person celebration of this folio will be held at Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center in Los Angeles, CA on June 3rd, 2023. Anthony Cody and J. Michael Martinez will showcase their work along with poetry readings from local Los Angeles poets.

This folio is made possible thanks to Letras Latinas, the literary initiative at the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies, and The Poetry Foundation.

We hope you enjoy this collection of groundbreaking work. To access the folio, please click HERE.

Brent Ameneyro, Poetry Editor